Transom drive



Oct. 15, 1957 L. E. RUSSELL TRANSOM DRIVE Filed May 29, 1953 FIG.!

' INVENTOR- LINus E. RUSSELL FIG.5

United; States 2,869,605 Patented Get. 15, 1957 free raANsor/r nnrvn Linus E. Russell, Springfieid, @hio, assignor to Peters & Russell, Ina, Springfield, ()hio, a corporation of Ohio Appiication May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,461

9 Claims. (Cl. 11541) This invention relates to power boats, and more par- K ticularly to a transom drive unit therefor of the type wherein an outboard propeller drive is powered by an inboard engine.

lVnile drive units of the general type disclosed herein are not new, the units heretofore known have all incor porated certain undesirable and objectionable features. For this reason transom drives have not had the wide acceptance that would be expected of devices having the theoretical advantages inherently present in units of this type.

Thus, the object of the invention is to simphfy the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of transom drive units, whereby such units may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of application, having relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a generally new drive unit of the class described of relatively more simple and less costly construction than those known heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to obviate the use of idlers and various other known devices to tension the propeller drive means, it being proposed in this connection to provide for fine increments of relative bodlly adjustment between the driving shaft and the propeller shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new form of mounting of the drive unit on the boat enabling it to be rocked more readily to its alternate positions of adjustment.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for power adjustment of the drive unit, in conjunction with means for holding the unit in selected positions of adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transom drive unit of the character described, possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation hereln described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view, in part diagrammatic, of a propeller drive and controls therefor, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention;

Fig. l-A is an enlarged detailed showing of the drive chains shown in section A of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the drive unit adjusted to non-operating position;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the drive unit and mounting mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is an exaggerated fragmentary detail view (diagrammatic in part) of the control linkage. 7

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the invention a power boat, diagrammatically indicated at 10, has a power shaft 11 projecting through the transom or stem thereof and driven by an inboard engine (not shown).

Stationarily installed on the boat 10 is a propeller mount in the form of a rectangular frame 12 having an end portion in projecting, overhanging relationto the stem. The projecting portion of the frame 12 supports a relatively rotatable shaft 13. Secured to the shaft 13 are a plurality of brackets 14 which have their one ends made fast to the shaft 13 and which extend rearwardly of the shaft with their opposite ends being secured to a mounting plate 15. Secured to plate 15 is a bearing mount, including side frames 16 and 17 and a perforate base plate 18, all connected into a unitary structure, as by welding. The side frames 16 and 17 support a rotatable shaft 19, one end of which projects out through the mounting 15 toward the engine shaft 11. The weight of the drive unit tends to rock the arms 14 downward, or in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1. This motion is limited to a predetermined extent, so that the shaft 19 normally is aligned with the engine shaft 11. Intertitting portions 21 and 22 on the shafts 11 and 19 define a coupling which is separable by a swinging motion of the arms 14 in a counterclockwise direction, resulting in a withdrawing motion of the shaft 19 with respect to the shaft 11.

Enclosing the bearing mount is a housing 23 secured intermediate mounting plate 15 and bearing mount plate 17. Spaced from the housing 23 is a propeller housing 24 mounting a rotatable propeller shaft 25. The shaft 25 extends outside the housing 24 and has a propeller 26 secured thereto.

Interconnecting the housing members 23 and 24, and respectively attached thereto at its opposite ends is an intermediate housing comprising a pair of laterally spaced apart tubular members 27 defining wells which intercomrnunicate the interior compartments of the housings 23 and 24. The housing 23 may be termed the driving shaft compartment and the housing 24 may be termed the propeller shaft compartment. The shafts 19 and 25 are in parallel spaced apart relation and in substantially a common plane. The shaft 19 has a driving relation to the shaft 25, continuous chains 29 being provided which mesh with sprockets on the respective shafts and pass through the tubes 27.

Provision is made for effecting relative adjustment of the shafts 19 and 25 to the end that tension of the chains 29 may be slackened or increased. A series of screws or bolts 31 and another series of screws or bolts 32 are installed in the base plate 18 of the bearing mount with their lower ends projecting downward in the housing 23 toward an internal pad or flange 33 on the housing 23. The bolts 31 have a threaded engagement with the plate 18 and an abutting thrust engagement with the flange 33. The shanks of the bolts 32 are passed freely through the plate 18 and into threaded engagement with the flange 33, with the heads thereof having abutting engagement with the plate 18. The bolts 31 and 32 are thus complementary to one another, and, as will be understood, provide a means for obtaining accurate, minute adjustments in the relativepositions of the shaft 19 and 25.

As is shown in the drawing, adjustment of the screws 317-32 causes the housing 23 and its associated housing members 27 and-241p move-as a-un'it relative to the base plate 18 of the bearing mount structure. Movement of the housing assembly relative' to the bearing mount and shaft 19 moves propellershaft relative to shaft 19 since shaft '25 is fixed to-the housing assembly'for unison movement therewith. Referring to Fig. 1, housing 23: is

supported intermediate mounting plate 15 and plate 17' of the bearing mount structure, and the housingis capable of sliding motion relative to both plates 15 and 17. When adjusted to the desired position, it. is fixed in such position by a clamping action. of the adjacent plates 15-17. Where the shaft 19 passes through the housing 23 there is provided an elongated opening The bracket arms 14 maybe swung about a pivot as represented by the axis of'shaft' 13 to place the propeller 26 and its driving mechanism either in the operating position of Fig. 1 or the non-operating position of Fig. 2. In the former position --the propeller 26 is submerged, and the drive assembly of which it is a part occupies a position substantially normal to .the longitudinal axis ofthe boat, with the coupling elements 21 and 2.2.engaged. Now, if the arms 14 are swung upward, or in a counterclockwise direction,;the coupling elements 21 and 22' are disengaged, and, as such motion is continued the'drive assembly is rocked to the elevated, non-submerged position of Fig. 2.

For effecting and controlling the described swinging movements of the arms 14; and the propeller drive supported thereby, an actuatingmechanism is provided including a bell'crank lever 34 secured to theshasft 13. Connected to .one arm of the'lever 3'4'i's atwo-piece toggle link 35 having a joint 36. The toggle link 35. extends between and interconnects the lever .34 and a fixed .an-

.chor 37 on the frame 12. The other end of the lever 34 Fig. 1 (also Fig. 5) it becomes self-locking. The shoulder 41 forms an abutment or stop against. which projection 42. engages .to. prevent collapse of the joint or movement thereof in a downward direction. Counterclockwisemotionof the lever 34 is thus restrained by the li-nk35. Clockwise motion of lever 34 is restrained by cylinder 39. Rotary motion of lever 34 in either direction. is thereby prevented by link, 35 which accordingly may be described as functioning to hold the drive as- V sembly inthe operating position of Fig. 1-.

To. raise the drive mechanism out of the water, as for servicing .or when beaching the boat, hydraulic pressure is applied inthe cylinder 39 in a direction to extend piston 38. The reactant component of this applied force is,delivered through .the cylinder 39 to the link 35, tending to buckle or collapse the joint 36. Under these combined pressures; one actingon the lever 34and the other on the link 35, the joint 36 opens and continued applicationof the hydraulic pressure causes the lever 34 to rock in a counterclockwise direction, raising the drive assembly to the position of Fig. 2. To return the drive to opcratingposition, the hydraulic pressure in cylinder 39'is released. and it will he understood that this will a controlled operation providingxfor a gradual descent. of the drive'unit.

From. the above description it will be apparent: that there is thus. provided adevice of the character described possessing the particular feature fdvantas ef re from said one positionto-theother one of saidpositionsj enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited. to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a power, boat, an engine shaft projecting from said boat, a propeller mount, a propeller housing pivotally connected to said mount, a propeller shaft'rotatably mounted in said housing, a bearing mounting in said housing spaced from said propeller shaft, a driving shaft rotatable in said bearing mounting, a chain drive interconnecting said driving shaft and .said propeller shaft, saidbearing mounting and said housing being relatively adjustable to tension said. drive, a relatively elongated opening in said housing through which one end of said drivingshaft projects; and coupling means on the projecting ,end of said driving shaft engageable with said engineshafn 2. In a power boat, a propeller mount, bracket means .pivotally connected to said propeller mount, a bearing mount secured to said bracket means, a drivingshaft rotatably supported in said bearing mount, a'housing member in substantially surrounding relation to said bearing mount and connectedthereto for relative longitudinal adjustment, tubular spaced apart wells connected at their one ends to said housing member, a propeller shaft housingconnected to'said tubular wells at their opposite ends, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in said propeller shaft housing, and chain drive means interconnecting said shafts and passed'throughsaid tubular wells.

3-. A power boat according to claim 2, characterizedby means on said propeller mount for rocking said bracket means to raise and lower the assembly comprising said bearing mount, said housing member, said tubular wells, said propeller shaft housing, and supported parts.

4. In a power boat, a propeller mount, a transomdrive, swingable bracket meansconnected at one end to said transom drive and connected at the other end to said propeller mount, lever means on said propeller mount operatively connected to said bracket means and movable to and fro to effect araising and lowering of said'transom drive, said lever having opposed ends and meansconnected to said opposed ends of said lever means for moving said.

lever means and for holding said lever means infan adjusted position.

5. A power boat according to claim 4, characterized in that said last named means includes an anchor on said propellerumount, 'a two-part joint toggle link connected. at one end tos'aid: anchor and at the other end tonne" end of said lever means, and hydraulic cylinder. means.

- connected at one end to said toggle link intermediate said:

anchor and the. joint in said. .togglelinkand connected at itsother end: to. the other end otsaid lever means. 6. In .a powerboat, ,apropeller mount, .atransomdrive,

swingable bracket means connected at one end to. said transom drive andconnected. at the other end. to -said:

of said positions, and hydraulic cyli'nder meansintercon necting said toggle link and bracket means and having extension and retraction strokes, the applied thrust of one of said strokes tending to movesaid transom drive buckle said-toggle link,

7. In a power boat, a propeller mount, swingable bracket means connected at one end to said mount, a bearing mount supported by the opposite end of said bracket means, swinging motion of said bracket means tending to raise and lower said bearing mount, a driving shaft rotatably supported in said bearing mount, a propeller housing attached to said bearing mount, a propeller shaft supported in said housing in spaced relation to said driving shaft, chain drive means interconnecting said shafts, means for relatively adjusting said bearing mount and said propeller housing to vary the tension of said chain drive, and means for effecting swinging motion of said bracket means, said propeller housing being movable in unison with said heating mount and said adjusting means being accessible in either the raised or lowered position of said bearing mount and propeller housing.

8. In a power boat, a propeller mount, a housing deendent from said mount and including a driving shaft compartment and a propeller shaft compartment and spaced apart parallel Wells interconnecting said compartments, shafts in said compartments, a continuous driving chain interconnecting said shafts and pansing through said wells, a shaft bearing mounting in said driving shaft compartment and supported by said propeller mount, and

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,345,689 Snadecki Apr. 4, 1944 2,486,574 Roof Nov. 1, 1949 2,548,121 Reid Apr. 10, 1951 2,608,946 Hoover Sept. 2, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS I 16,824 Great Britain a- Sept. 20, 1892 275,824 Italy July 3, 1930 370,707 France Ian. 3, 1907 

